Increasing manufacturing efficiency but not thinking of the consequences comes with more risk than you think.
Every day, we’re speaking with customers who are bringing in shiny, new, efficient technology to enable greater manufacturing productivity — and, in the long run, reduce production costs.
However, this wave of digital transformation is also dramatically increasing cybersecurity risks for organisations with OT environments (which includes virtually all manufacturers).
As systems and production processes become more connected, organisations must ask themselves: Are we truly prepared for the added risk?
Digital Transformation, Smart Manufacturing, Industry 4.0 — Opportunity and Risk
Whatever you want to call it, this shift is characterised by the integration of Advanced OT, Industrial IoT (IIoT), AI-driven automation, cloud computing, and big data analytics into traditional manufacturing systems.
These innovations deliver incredible efficiencies and cost savings — but they also introduce new vulnerabilities:
- Expanded Attack Surface – Legacy OT systems, once isolated, are now networked, making them potential targets for cyberattacks.
- Convergence of IT and OT – Traditional IT security measures often fail to account for the unique challenges of industrial environments.
- Increased Supply Chain Exposure – Third-party vendors and cloud services bring value but can also introduce security blind spots.
- Regulatory Pressure – Compliance with frameworks such as NIS2, IEC 62443, and NIST CSF is now a business necessity, not just an IT task.
This Isn’t Going Anywhere
With Industry 4.0 adoption and increased DT, cyber threats to OT environments have escalated dramatically.
We’ve seen ransomware attacks like EKANS specifically designed to disrupt industrial processes, state-sponsored cyber campaigns targeting critical infrastructure, and a rise in zero-day vulnerabilities across industrial control systems.
Unlike traditional IT breaches, OT cyberattacks don’t just result in data loss — they can cause physical disruption, safety incidents, and costly operational downtime.
Key Strategies to Secure Your OT Environment
1. Asset Discovery & Visibility
Many organisations do not have a complete inventory of their connected OT assets. A robust OT asset discovery solution is critical to understanding what needs protection.
2. Segmentation and Zero Trust
Flat networks increase exposure. Implementing network segmentation and Zero Trust principles ensures that unauthorised access is limited and threats are contained.
3. Continuous Monitoring & Threat Detection
Traditional IT security tools aren’t designed for OT environments. Deploying anomaly-based monitoring and behavioural analytics tailored for industrial systems can help detect threats early.
4. Supply Chain Risk Management
This drive for greater efficiency leans heavily on third-party vendors. Implementing a structured third-party risk management programme ensures vulnerabilities do not infiltrate your operations.
5. Compliance-Driven Security Strategy
With regulations like NIS2 tightening security expectations, organisations must assess compliance gaps, define risk priorities, and implement OT-specific governance frameworks.
Is Your OT Security Ready for the Change?
Digital transformation is here to stay. And with it comes an urgent need to rethink and reinforce your OT security posture.
Relying on outdated, or non-existent, security models simply won’t cut it anymore.
Organisations that proactively address these challenges will not only reduce their risk, they’ll build a stronger, more resilient, future-proof operation, ready to thrive in modern manufacturing.
At Harpoon Consulting, we specialise in OT security, compliance, and risk management, helping organisations secure their transformation.
If you’re ready to enhance your OT security strategy, let’s talk.
